Major Industry Change re: Online Scuba Sales....

[fire_diver]

....some LDS probably wouldn't want to deal with eveybody...especially the ones that know everything about everything and don't want to here advice....

 

[ReefHound]

some LDS probably wouldn't want to deal with everybody...especially the ones that know everything about everything and don't want to here advice....

Or drink the Kool Aid.

 

[scubanaked]

RJTY....you 100 percent right.

 

[scubanaked]

I have bought 3 regs, 2 dive computers, 4 BCD's, 2 aluminum tanks, 3 sets of mask,fins, snorkel, two wet suits, 1 dry suit, a set of doubles with bands and manifold and various clips and accessories. I can't wait to go to the dive store to look at the difference in the OMS and the deep outdoors bladder. More than likely I will go with the OMS...but my dive shop gives me choices and they are competive with the internet....besides its another excuse to go to the shop to plan the up coming ice dives.....I was going to buy my ice diver course online...but could not find it! Come to think of it I couldn't find any of my 10 speciality courses online...but who needs dive shops...especially to train people for wreck dives, ice dives...etc...I mean all the information is on the internet...but I don't drink the internet kool aid either. But if I lived in Texas maybe I would dive to 30 feet year round on scuba pro's...

 

[superstar]

I have bought 3 regs, 2 dive computers, 4 BCD's, 2 aluminum tanks, 3 sets of mask,fins, snorkel, two wet suits, 1 dry suit, a set of doubles with bands and manifold and various clips and accessories. I can't wait to go to the dive store to look at the difference in the OMS and the deep outdoors bladder. More than likely I will go with the OMS...but my dive shop gives me choices and they are competive with the internet....besides its another excuse to go to the shop to plan the up coming ice dives.....I was going to buy my ice diver course online...but could not find it! Come to think of it I couldn't find any of my 10 speciality courses online...but who needs dive shops...especially to train people for wreck dives, ice dives...etc...I mean all the information is on the internet...but I don't drink the internet kool aid either. But if I lived in Texas maybe I would dive to 30 feet year round on scuba pro's...

I'm using old Scubapro equipment I bought 30 years ago so I'm not buying enough equipment to keep the LDS in buisness. You on the other hand, seem to be doing a good job of keeping your LDS in buisness buying all sorts of stuff. I congratulate your LDS loyalty. Who is going to keep them in buisness when you stop buying stuff.

 

[ReefHound]

You've bought a lot of stuff! Why so much? Your LDS not steer you right in the beginning?

Be sure to look at the Oxychek, Dive Rite, and Halcyon bladders. You're LDS does carry all those, right?

Dive shops don't teach classes, instructors do.

 

[bperrybap]

I was going to buy my ice diver course online...but could not find it! Come to think of it I couldn't find any of my 10 speciality courses online...but who needs dive shops...

But you can find courses including all kinds of specialties
on the Internet. Dive resorts and dive shops in vacation
areas are now starting to advertise their courses on their WEB pages.
Here is just one of many examples: Courses at CocoView

This is an example of what was brought up in the original
post: Dive businesses need to have an internet presence
in order to pull in additional business rather than attempt
to fight it.

I won't argue with you that people need dive shops. Its not
clear that the dive shop always has to be local. People may really
want to have a local dive shop but I think it could
be argued whether they really need one.


--- bill

 

[PhilEllis]

Ever notice that the internet gives you good deals on some things and then does not do very good in others...This business model allows for the isolation of the consumer to a single store and the maintenance of high prices, which result in a "high margin of profit on high volume".
Most sites don't care what you buy, they don't have to see you after you have dove those fins, or look at you when that reg freezes at 48 degrees... Ever try on a mask on the internet....Ever look and try on fins on the internet...what about that snorkel....How about service?.I just bought my BCD and something is wrong...maybe is a easy fix at the dive shop...instead of the 2 weeks of shipping back and fourth to the internet store...
Maybe I bought a reg online and my store does not service that brand because that brand only sells parts to authorized sellers (great move scuba pro..)
Ever get advice on a few models....maybe on a regulator...The APEX is a good reg..ever get it serviced...compared to a Sherwood...
Ever take a class from the internet store?
Ever get an air fill from the internet store?
The internet has its place...but unless you are in some unique region where you can only get one store to shop from...most shops have package deals the match or beat the internet....
Here is a perfect example of the internet store:
TUSA Dive in Color Package
Dive in Pink Personal Gear Package
Tri-EX Fins, M-16 Serene Mask, SP-170 Hyperdry Snorkel
$167.00
shipping....?

I found the Tri-EX fins all over the internet for $79.00. ($89.00 at the local dive shop), serene mask $59.00 all over the internet. (59.99 at the local dive shop) and the SP-170 snorkel for $32.00 ($34.99 at the local dive shop). The total of $170.00, thanks diveshop.com for the $3.00 savings in the package...
My dive store gives a minimum of 10% on packages...so they are $185.00 minus 10% ($166.50)..and I get to try on the product...SO I see your point on how we are better served by the internet...
oh..by the way...did anyone tell the customer that they might need a neoprene boot to go with these? And you might have to pay sales tax....good... maybe the police or fire department will have gas to help you!

By the way, I am not a scuba store owner, just believe that if you can find a good store with options, get good service and be able to get good advice..it's worth spending a couple extra bucks for...

You have a great local dive store. I am glad when I see reports like yours. Your local dive store offers competitive prices, excellent service, great service, and has done all of the things necessary to be successful in this business. When the cleansing wave finally sweeps through this industry, your dive shop will be one of the survivors.

I own the shop from which you drew your TUSA Dive in Pink example. It is a local scuba store. I cannot harm your local dive store even one bit. Because they get it! They understand that they must be competitive. I am glad to see that. The scuba world will be much better when about 1500 local dive stores understand the program.

Don't get angry. There is no need for the hostility in this discussion. This is not an "us" against "them" argument. We are in the same industry, rowing the same boat.....

P.S....maybe you haven't been around long enough to see what the prices were in MOST local dive stores before they began to feel a slight amount of pressure from the on-line stores. For your great prices, you can thank you local dive store owner. But you also owe a little gratitude to......................

scuba.com
scubatoys
divesports.com
diversupply.com
crazyscuba.com
joediveramerica
diveriteexpress
wow, the list goes on and on.......

These stores (there are hundreds of them) put on the pressure that is now making SOME local dive store understand the game. Some of them are becoming the real deal. I am glad your local dive store is one of them. Thanks.

Phil Ellis

 

[royalediver]

I want to know how it is justified to go to your local dive store and tie up their employees time to get educated on a product, try it on or operate it and then go home and look for the best price on the internet. How can a local retailer absorb those costs to help the online sales. The local retailer is the showroom for the online retailer.

If one takes the bulk of opinions poste,d online is the future, but as a manufacturer, who will create my new customers? If the sales of equipment ends up being an Amazon experience, who will fill tanks, and service product? Scuba Toys, Diveriteexpress.com are good marketers but I doubt the could survive a full blown assult if online retailers had full access to all manufacturers products. Most of posters ARE divers, the bulk of my sales are to NEW divers.

Let's have an honest discussion without name calling, this should be an education for all of us. Maybe we can find an answer.

 

[royalediver]

What has happened in most of Europe is the LDS is gone. Local clubs maintain a compressor, and almost all gear is sold online. Is this the future here? Could be.

I can see a day where you have "fill only" shops that actually charge the real cost of the fill, not some loss leader to get you in the shop.

I can see, at least in larger Metro areas, Services that do nothing but repair work, regs etc. Currently most LDS send out their customer's regs to such services. Not a huge change for these guys to "go retail"

There is nothing magic about model that combines gear sales, travel, instruction, reg service, and fills. Each of these components can be "broken off" and run as a specialty operation.

Who cares is air fills are priced at true cost, $10-15 maybe, but your gear is 20-50% less?


Tobin

Good Example!!!!

My understanding from European distributors is that the market there is collapsing-I now sell less than 25% of what I used to in Europe.